Marnie Pearce sees her son on his birthday

A mum jailed in Dubai for a crime she denies will see her son on his birthday.

Marnie Pearce, 40, will celebrate her son Laith’s eighth birthday when he visits her in the emirate’s Al Awir jail today.

The mum-of-two has been behind bars since February after a Dubai court found her guilty of adultery – a charge she denies.

Marnie, who moved from Aysgarth in Great Hollands to the Middle East 15 years ago, will be deported after her three-month sentence.

Her ex-husband, Egyptian Ihab El-Labban, will get custody of Laith and his four-year-old brother Ziad.

Marnie’s dad David Pearce, who still lives in the family home in Aysgarth, said: “I spoke to Ihab and he said he’s happy to let her see them for Laith’s birthday.

“Whatever else he has done he is looking after the kids – I have spoken to them and they seem fine.”

David, 70, has also pleaded with journalists on national papers to stop “hounding” Ihab as he fears several recent reports branding him as a love cheat could make him stop Marnie ever seeing her kids again.

He said: “Whether Marnie’s innocent or not, them doing this smear campaign against Ihab could destroy her chances of seeing the boys again.

“If the press out there keep hounding him and saying all these things then he’ll take the boys away.

“I’m not supporting Ihab, I know how I feel about him, but right now the kids are more important.”